ASSISTANT-BOSS Chris Spurr says York City Knights will go into their Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fourth round tie later this month as sizeable underdogs - but with a view to causing an upset.

The League One Knights were paired with Championship side Swinton during Tuesday night's draw but they have been given home advantage, with the tie now confirmed for 3pm on Sunday, March 18 at Bootham Crescent.

York breezed through round three with a 64-6 win at Cumbrian amateurs Askam on Saturday but this next hurdle promises to be significantly harder, against a Lions team who beat the Knights to promotion from League One in 2015 and consolidated in the second tier over the last two seasons, albeit avoiding the drop by only a point last term.

The Greater Manchester side have not had a great start to 2018, though, conceding over a century of points in losing their first three games - 46-14 in Toulouse, 48-28 at home to Batley and 20-0 at Dewsbury.

Said Spurr: "They're a Championship team so it will be a tough test. But when you're in the hat the main thing you want is a home draw and we've got that.

"We're pretty pleased with our form over our first two games so, on that basis, we can look forward to it with some confidence.

"They will go into it as favourites but hopefully we will be able to pull off a shock win."

Championship clubs enter the competition at this stage, barring French side Toulouse, who have declined to take part.

Spurr added: "They (Swinton) had a bit of financial trouble at the back end of last season so maybe they've had a big turnover of players. We'll look into their strengths and weaknesses at the right time and we'll be prepared.

"They've had a tough start but they're in a tough competition - the Championship is probably the best it's ever been. But they might look at this fixture as a way to kickstart their season."

Elsewhere in the fourth round, Kells, one of three amateur teams still involved, were paired at home to Canadian big guns Toronto Wolfpack.

Super League sides enter in rounds five and six.

Challenge Cup round 4 draw in full: Hunslet v Bradford Bulls, Barrow Raiders v Sheffield Eagles, Workington Town v London Broncos, Halifax v Oldham, Kells v Toronto Wolfpack, North Wales Crusaders v Featherstone Rovers, Coventry Bears v Pilkington Recs, Whitehaven v Dewsbury Rams, Normanton Knights v Rochdale Hornets, Batley Bulldogs v Leigh Centurions, Doncaster v Newcastle Thunder, York City Knights v Swinton Lions.